Author's rant: Wow, a whole lotta people want Mrs. Kirby dead. ^_~

Chapter 16

Eric glanced over his shoulder at his parents and felt himself smile warily. However glad he was his parents were getting along, he knew just how quickly they could go back to "divorced" status. The smile soon faded however. None of them really had a laugh in them after what happened to Tory. Nash, Cooper and Udesky were grown men and it felt different to have men who willingly gambled with their lives die in contrast to a child who was only begining to find out about the world outside the aviary.
Deciding against talking to Julia (he could just imagine what his mother would say if he did that...) because she was having a conversation with Billy. Looking up to Dr. Grant he walked to the older man.
"Dr. Grant...?"
Turning the older man nodded to him. "Hello, Eric." Looking back the man smiled dryly. "You're parents appear to be getting along. Very much contradictory to your predictions if I remember correctly."
Eric smiled a little himself. "Yeah... It won't last though. Never does. Something will happen and they'll start all over again with the fighting." He said, sincerity ringing in his negative prediction.
Alan frowned. There seemed to be no talking Eric out of the idea that his parents current situation was only temporary. The dark mood everyone seemed to be in wasn't any help to Eric hypothesis of failure in his parents relationship. After a long silence Alan finally asked Eric what was on every adults mind at the moment. "Eric... Are you alright? After what you've been through already and what happened last night-"
"I am fine." Eric replied stiffly. "So long as that lady you called can really help."
Alan smiled a bit. "She can. She is the one person I could always count on." He looked back to Eric for a moment. He knew the boy wasn't really fine. He also knew the boy would rather they worry about Julia then him. There had been times he had felt that way he could remember.
Suddenly both he and the boy stopped. They heard it the very same moment. The ocean.
Immediatly they took off running, excitment taking over their senses. They tore off for the beach, closely followed by their companinons.
Before they ever made it to the ocean a familier hissing sound hit their ears along with a low growl. Eric and Julia were, for once, not the only ones to recognize the warning nature gave them. Both of the teens looked to the trees, hoping to find an easy escape route as they both had many times, but found none as the raptors jumped out from the mist at them, surrounding the small group.
The adults formed a protective circle around the two children, although Eric and Julia knew that nothing would save them now...

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Rant: Well I am giving you a little more time to get your votes in folks. Check the previous chapter and vote or sumthin.